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A revealing visit to France last month by President Sebastián Piñera has reignited a long smoldering debate in Chile over the "nuclear option." Careful not to endorse the possibility outright, the Chilean leader nevertheless make it clear during an Oct. 20 stopover in Paris that, with the benefit of some French know-how, nuclear power plants may eventually be in the cards for Chile." Chile has to prepare itself for the world of nuclear energy," Piñera said following a meeting with his French counterpart President Nicolas Sarkozy. "Our government has the obligation to prepare our engineers, scientists, and technical workers."
The two signed a "strategic alliance" under which Chile looks to benefit from France’s considerable experience with atomic power plants.